Note-sheet-guiding device.



E. J. KRUCK.

NOTE SHEET GUIDiNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. m4.

PatentedJune 8, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

{Mill 1 IHUI 0 in Q l; A WW (g WIZZSES THE NORR'S PETERS CO.. PHOTC-LITHO WASHINGTON. n. c.

E. J. KHUCK.

NOTE SHEET GUIDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. I9I4.

Patented June 8, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

lNI/E/VTOR IIIE NORRIS PETERS coy, PHOTO-LITHQ, W/ISHINGTQN. D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nnvm J. KRUCK, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

NOTE-SHEET-GUIDING DEVICE.

Application filed May 21, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERVIN J. KnUoK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, in the county of Kings, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Note-Sheet- Guiding Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof.

This invention relates to devices for insuring the proper and desired relation between traveling, perforated note-sheets of antomatic musical instruments and the tracker boards over which they travel. In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings the tracker board is itself moved by motor devices the operation of which is initiated by the wandering or relative displacement of the note-sheet so that the desired or normal relation of the two is restored, but it is not intended thereby to restrict the invention to an arrange ment in which the tracker board is shifted by the operation of the motor devices, since it is well understood in the art that the shifting of the tracker board and the shifting of the note-sheet, to restore the normal relation between the two, are equivalents in a general sense. It will also be seen, by reference to the drawings and as this description proceeds, that the operation of the mechanism by which the desired relation of the note-sheet and tracker board is accomplished may be initiated, not only by the accidental wandering of the music sheet, for the purpose of correcting the relation, but also by hand, at the will of the operator, for the purpose of effecting a transposition of the tones produced a half tone in either direction from the middle or normal and it will therefore be understood that the reference to insuring the desired or proper relation between the music sheet and the tracker board includes the shifting of the tracker board or of the music sheet for either purpose, as well as that the mechanism may be employed, within the scope of the invention, for either purpose by itself. The operation of the motor devices is initiated and controlled through the edge contact of the notesheet with a detector or controller mounted in proximity to the edge of the note-sheet, the movement of the detector by the wandering edge of the note-sheet being lightly Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Serial No. 839,945.

opposed by yielding resistance, such as a light spring, so that the detector follows the edge of the note-sheet when it wanders away from the detector. The movement of the detector effects the admission of air, for the control of a pneumatic motor (which is preferably employed) through one or another of two passages which have their control terminals in a movable member and such movable member is itself connected with the motor so that when one of the control ports, for example, is opened by the detector and the necessary movement of the motor takes place, the movable member immediately moves in the same direction with the detector so that the control port which has just been opened is closed again and further movement of the motor, to an undesirable extent, is prevented.

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated and in which Figure l is a view in front elevation of a tracker mechanism with the improved notesheet guiding devices applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in longitudinal, vertical section and on a larger scale, showlng the controlling devices. Fig. 3 is a top view partly in horizontal section on the line indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail view in section on the plane indicated by the line 4% of Fig. 1 but on a larger scale.

In the application of the invention shown in the drawings, the music roll a, supplying the perforated music sheet I), and the winding-on roll 0, are supported as usual in a frame d, the winding-on roll 0 being driven in the usual manner by a motor mechanism, only a portion of which is indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The tracker board 6, the ports of which are severally connected as usual to the valves which control the player pneumatics, is in this instance mounted so as to be movable with respect to the music sheet Z) for the purpose of compensating for possible wandering of the music sheet, that is, accidental displacement of the music sheet laterally from its normal position, and also for the purpose of permitting transposition to be effected at the will of the operator. The tracker may be supported movably by links 6' c hung on brackets cl on the frame cl, the link 6 having in this instance an arm 6 which is connected by an adjustable link 0 with one member f of the double pneumatic motor f 7. Thelatter may be constructedin any suitable manner and in the construction shown comprises two oppositely disposed bellows f f the movable members of which are connected for common movement by a link 7, so that as one bellows collapses the other expands, and vice versa, and the movement of the tracker board 6 in one direction or the other is effected by the collapsing of one bellows or the other through connection with the vacuum system of the instrument as at f. The connection of one bellows or the other with the vacuum system is controlled by corresponding valves 9 and 9, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, one of the valves and its connections being shown in detail in Fig. 4 in order that the operation of the motor may be understood. The valve 9 is connected by a duct it with one of the terminal control ports hereinafter mentioned and the other valve g is similarly connected by a duct h with the other of such terminal control ports. When air at atmospheric pressure is admitted, by the uncovering of one of the terminal control ports, to one of the control valves, as g, the piston 9* of the valve moves to the right in Fig. 4 and the valve disk 9 is also moved to the right to open the port 9 thereby placing the bellows f in communication with the vacuum system through the passage f valve 9 and tube The bellows f, under such conditions, is therefore collapsed and through the described connections the tracker board 6 is moved to the right. If the bellows f is collapsed, then the tracker board 6 will be moved to the left.

Tn proximity to the note-sheet b is mounted a movable controlling member 11 conveniently comprising a tube with two chambers i and mounted for longitudinal movement in one of the side members of the frame d and supported by a rod 2' which has a bearing in the other side member of the frame. The chamber 2" is connected as at 2" to the duct 7i and the chamber 2' is similarly connected, as at 2', to the duct h. The chamber 71' is provided with a terminal port or terminal ports i and the chamber i is similarly provided with a terminal port or terminal ports 2' such terminal ports being adapted to be uncovered or covered, to permit or prevent the admission of air at atmospheric pressure as already described, by a detector or feeler or controller which moves with the wandering of the adjacent edge of the note-sheet.

The detector or controller shown in the drawings consists of a sleeve mounted to move freely on the movable member slotted as at is for cooperation with the terminal ports i and 2' provided with a flange 71: to bear against the adjacent edge of the notesheet, and provided at its other end with a flange to furnish a bearing for a light spiral spring 70* which encircles the movable member 2' and bears at its other end against a suitable abutment such as the side frame (Z,

The movable member 2' is connected to the motor 7 7" so as to be shifted thereby in the same direction with the movement of the detector ]c. As shown in the drawings a pin 2' in the slotted head of the movable member z' is engaged by a slotted lever Z which is fulcrumed at Z and is connected by an adjustable link Z with the movable member of the bellows of the motor 7.

Since the operation of the note-sheet guiding devices, when employed to correct accidental relative displacement of the notesheet and tracker, is the same whether the transposing devices are used or not, the operation of the note-sheet guiding devices when so used for the purpose of correcting relative accidental displacement of the notesheet and tracker board will now be described.

In the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it may be assumed that the note-sheet has wandered from its proper, normal position, toward the right and that the detector 70 has been permitted thereby to move to the right, under the influence of the spring 7c to an extent suiliciont to uncover or uncover partially the right hand terminal port i in the'movable terminal member i. The admission of air at atmospheric pressure through the port or ports 2' and the duct it permits the shifting of the valve disk in the valve structure g so as to connect the bellows f of the motor f j with the vacuum system represented at f. The bellows 7" then collapses and, through the connections 6 e 6', causes the tracker board 0 to be shifted toward the right so as to restore the proper normal relation between the tracker board and the note-sheet and thereby secure accurate registration of the perforations of the notesheet with the ports of the tracker board. The collapsing of the bellows 7 will con tinue (until the limit is reached by the complete collapsing of the bellows) so long as the port 2' is open. t becomes necessary, therefore, to close the port 6 as soon as the movement of the tracker board 6 has been continued long enough to permit its ports to register properly with the perforations of the note-sheet. The detector or controller 70 will not move backward so as to cover the port i unless the notesheet moves in the same direction and the closing of the port is therefore accomplished, in the construction shown, by causing the movable terminal member to move in the same direction with the controller is. This is accomplished, as already described, through the connection of the movable terminal member 6 to the motor f. It will be understood, of course, that the movement of the terminal member 6 begins instantly after the movement of the controller and continues just long enough after the movement of the controller 70 ceases to permit the port e' to be completely closed. If the note-sheet wanders to the left, then the terminal port or terminal ports 2' will be opened, the bellows f will collapse partially, the tracker board 6 will be moved to the left, and the movable terminal member a will also be moved to the left, thereby causing the operation of the motor to cease as soon as the wandering of the note-sheet to the weft has been corrected or compensated by corresponding movement of the tracker board 6 to the left.

It will be understood that the terminal ports 2' and i are uncovered through the slot 70 of the detector or controller 70. It will also be understood that excessive move ment of the detector or controller is to the ri ht, when the note-sheetvis removed, may be prevented by a hooked finger 72 secured to the frame cl and adapted to engage the flange Kc" of the detector, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Transposition is accomplished by the simple expedient of shifting the fulcrum Z of the lever Z. Such shifting, when the motor is at rest in normal position, produces a corresponding movement of the movable terminal member 2' in one direction or the other, causing the ports 2' or the ports i to be exposed through the slot is of the detector 76, which is then stationary between the edge of the note-sheet and the spring 70. Such exposure of the ports of one set or the other produces, in the manner already described, a corresponding movement of the tracker board and a corresponding movement of the movable terminal member 2' in the same direction to cause the ports which have been exposed to be covered again and the action of the motor to cease. As will. be obvious, any convenient means may be employed for shifting the fulcrum of the lever Z. As shown in the drawings the fulcrum pin Z is carried by rack bar m which has a suitable bearing in the frame (Z and is engaged by a toothed. sector m which may be pivotally mounted m on a bracket m and provited with a handle m by which it may be mo d. The handle M is elastic and is prov]. ed at m with a pin which may enter one or another of the holes m in a stop plate m whereby the degree of movement necessary to effect the transposition up or down is measured and detertermined.

It will be understood that various changes in details of construction and arrangement, to suit different conditions of use, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is not limited to the precise construction shown. It will also be understood that a notesheet device, as contemplated herein, covers as well a device for restoring the proper relation of the note-sheet and tracker-bar when such relation has been disturbed by the wandering of the note-sheet.

I claim as my invention 1. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member provided with a terminal controlling port and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet to control such terminal port, and operating con nections between the motor and such movable member whereby the latter is moved with relation to the controller.

2. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a pneumatic motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member provided with a terminal controlling port and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet to control such terminal port, and operating connections between the motor and such movable member whereby the latter is moved with relation to the controller.

In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel. over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member provided with two terminal controlling ports and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet to open or close one or the other of such terminal ports, and operating connections between the motor and such movable member whereby the latter is moved with relation to the controller.

In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet,

pneumatic controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member provided with a terminal controlling port and a spring-pressed controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet to control such terminal port, and operating connections between the motor and such movable member whereby the latter is moved with relation to the controller.

5. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation be tween the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member having chambers connecting severally with the motor and provided severally with terminal controlling ports and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet to control such terminal ports, and operating connections between the motor and such movable member whereby the latter is moved with relation to the controller.

(3. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member having chambers connected severally with the motor and provided severally with terminal controlling ports and a flanged sleeve-like controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet to control such terminal ports, and operating connections between the motor and such movable member whereby the latter is moved with respect to the controller.

7. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member having chambers connected severally with the motor and provided severally with terminal controlling ports and a flanged sleeve-like controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet to control such terminal ports, and a spring pressing the controller lightly against the edge of the note-sheet, and operating con nections between the motor and such movable member whereby the latter is moved with relation to the controller.

8. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, controlling devices for said motor, themselves controlled by the relative position of the note-sheet with respect to the trackerbar and themselves movable to shift their position of initial operation, and manually controlled means for shifting the controlling devices whereby the lateral relation of the tracker-bar and the note-sheet is changed to effect transposition in tone.

9. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the trackerbar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the notesheet, controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet, operating connections between the motor and such movable member, and means to shift the relation between the motor and said movable member whereby the position of initial operation of the controlling devices is shifted to effect transposition in tone.

10. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member provided with a terminal controlling port and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet to control such terminal port, operating connections between the motor and such movable member, and means to shift the relation between the motor and said movable member whereby the position of initial operation of the controlling devices is shifted to effect transposition in tone.

11. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and notesheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member having chambers connected severally with the motor and provided severally with terminal ports and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note sheet to control such terminal ports, operating connections between the motor and such movable member, and means to shift the relation between the motor and such movable member whereby the position of initial operation of the controlling devices is shifted to effect transposition in tone.

12. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direction, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet, and a lever operatively connected to such movable member and to said motor.

13. In a note-sheet guiding device, the combination of a tracker-bar, means for causing a note-sheet to travel over the tracker-bar, said tracker-bar and note-sheet being relatively movable in a lateral direc tion, a motor connected to adjust the lateral relation between the tracker-bar and the note-sheet, controlling devices for said motor, said devices including a movable member and a controller movable by contact with the edge of the note-sheet, a lever operatively connected to such movable member and to said motor, and means to shift the fulcrum of said. lever and thereby to shift the position of initial operation of the controlling devices to effect transposition in tone.

This specification signed and witnessed this 19th day of May A. D. 1914.

ERVIN J. KRUCK.

Signed in the presence of HENRY A. NICKEL, GEORGE L. KOENIG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

